Cunningham was a leading jockey around the North West racing area before weight problems forced him into the ranks of trainers. 

In recent years he has been based in Grafton but this time last year when parts of Grafton track were under repair he spent a couple of months at his old home track and met with plenty of success including Miss Caitlyn’s win on the same day.

So, with the carnivals approaching, Cunningham returned to Glen Innes for this year’s racing and the success story has continued.

Miss Caitlyn went into the Glen Innes Cup in great shape following wins at Texas and Inverell in December and was well supported by local punters despite a record that showed no placings from five previous attempts at 1400m.

“Jodie (apprentice Jodie Worley) had her in a good position, third or fourth all the way,” Cunningham said. 

Miss Caitlyn moved strongly to the lead near the 400m mark and kept on giving as the challengers made their move.

“I was a bit worried near the finish,” Worley said. 

“I could hear the others coming but she is game and just kept on giving. The chance to go to the lead probably came a little earlier than I would have chosen but you have to take the chances when they come.”

Runner-up Keep It Danish finished strongly and went within a half length of repeating last year’s success for the Sue Grills-Darren Jones combination while Inverell trainer Luke Berger’s Waikiki Gold fought on strongly after leading the field up to the 400.

Cunningham won his home Cup as a fresh-faced youngster and on top of locally owned Casino Joe, who won the Deepwater Cup-Glen Innes Cup double for owner Alec Robertson-Cuninghame.

The former HNWRA chairman was also on hand on Saturday to remind Paddy Cunningham of their long-ago success back in 1979.

“She (Miss Caitlyn) won here last year and then won in Grafton at her next start,” Paddy Cunningham said.

He also part-owns the winner after buying her as “a second hand horse”.

“She is going superbly this time in but is going to be hard to place from now on because her rating will go up,” he said.

“I sent her to a stallion during her break but she failed to get in foal. She is a bit hard to handle and I thought having a foal might settle her a bit. She didn’t get the foal but it seems to have worked anyway!

“My original aim was to set her for the Deepwater Cup but when she struggled to get around the Texas track we had to change plans. I have no idea where she will go next.”

So, is riding or training the winner of your local Cup a better feeling?

“I suppose training is better,” admits Cunningham. 

“You certainly put a lot more into the win. But either way is good being your local race and I did buy her as a second hand horse.”